Library Reclassification Services for the University of Birmingham.

Descriptions

Library Services are carrying out a project to reclassify books destined for the open shelves of the new library, due to inconsistencies between the classification schemes used by the existing Main Library and the site libraries. It is anticipated that the future open shelf collection will consist of around 300 000 items, and this is maximum number of items which will be reclassified. The reminder of the stock will not be reclassified and, when the new building opens, will move into Research Annexe.The classification scheme in use at all sites is Library of Congress, but without a main entry cutter (stock either does not have a suffix or cutter, or has a single letter suffix to indicate filing order). Library Services are reclassifying in order to standardise classmarks between the various University libraries, and between the University libraries and up to date Library of Congress schedules. This will include the re-introduction of the main entry cutter instead of the single letter suffix.Currently, stock destined for the new library open shelves and the Research Annexe is mingled on the shelves of the existing library sites. After reclassification, the reclassified books destined for the open shelves will be re-shelved in a completely new sequence within the existing Library buildings, in space created by the temporary removal into storage of print journal runs. The reclassified books will not be reintegrated into the existing sequences.Library Services are tendering for an external provider to handle the physical processing of the reclassified bookstock, using pre-printed spine labels and pre-existing data in the Library Management System.Library Services will provide pull lists of books which require reclassification. As stated above, it is expected that this list will be a maximum of approximately 300 000 items. It can be anticipated that not all books will be on the shelf, where they are missing, mis-shelved or out on loan. Library Services expect work with the successful tenderer to develop a process for dealing with these exceptions, which may go beyond the summer vacation period when the bulk of the work is expected to take place.